US3613265A - Plastic embedded labeled articles - Google Patents

Abstract

ARTICLES PRIMARILY FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ARE EMBEDDED IN PLASTIC TOGETHER WITH LABELS AND POINTERS OF LEAD LINES FROM THE LABELS TO SPECIFIC REGIONS OR STRUCTURES OF THE EMBEDDED ARTICLE.

Description

Oct. 19, 1971 5.5mm

2 PLASTIC EMBEDDED LABELED ARTICLES "Filed may 14. 1969 M/VE/UTORS,

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United States Patent Oflice 3,613,265 PLASTIC EMBEDDED LABELED ARTICLES Elliott Stern, Coral Gables, Fla. (704 Tease] Drive, Kingsport, Tenn. 37660), and Richard L. Aaron, 11340 SW. 47th Terrace, Miami, Fla. 33165 Filed May 14, 1969, Ser. No. 824,527

Int. Cl. G09b 23/00 US. Cl. 35-20 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Articles primarily for educational purposes are embedded in plastic together with labels and pointers or lead lines from the labels to specific regions or structures of the embedded article.

This invention relates to plastic embedded labeled articles and to methods for the preparation thereof. More particularly this invention relates to embedded articles, and especially biological specimens for educational purposes, which are provided with embedded labels and pointers, or lead lines from the labels to specific regions, structures, or subdivisions of the embedded specimen.

Embedding articles or biological specimens in transparent materials as a means of preservation or for reference and study is known. However, serious limitations exist in that the usefulness of the embedded article or specimen is restricted to study on a general level because that is no convenient way to refer precisely to specific regions, structures, or subdivisions of the specimen. For instance, if a plurality of coins are embedded in plastic, it is quite a simple matter to refer to one of the coins in a general way; however, with reference to the coin face, it is difficult to refer precisely to the arc of the nose of the image, as an example, in instructing. This limits the use of such devices for teaching so long as lead lines are not available to the precise area of discussion and to which the instructor desires to focus the attention of a student. According to our invention a specimen is embedded similarly to standard existing methods but with the added feature that labels, and pointers or lead lines directing from the labels to specific regions, structures and subdivisions of the specimen are likewise embedded, thereby overcoming the limitations of standard designs. Plastic embedded labeled articles expand the usage of embedded articles toinclude dissected and whole biological specimens for reference, study, testing, and autotutorial applications.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide specimens labeled and embedded in plastic material that can be produced at a cost comparable with that of nonlabeled specimens in plastic material.

Another object of this invention is to provide fairly permanent plastic embedded labeled specimens that will benefit instructors by providing pointers leading from the labels to specific regions, structures, or subdivisions of the specimens. Such depiction allows the student to refer to the plastic block for clarification at any time and, therefore, may be used in crowded laboratories or for self-study (autotutorial) laboratory experiences.

A further object of this invention is to provide materials that will be clearly labeled and preserved for use in testing situations. It is common for instructors to prepare and dissect test material from fresh or preserved specimens and label as desired, but such preparations are subject to drying, mutilation, and tampering during the course of the test. Use of the present invention by instructors would eliminate costly time losses that occur with current testing procedures.

The transparent plastic embedded labeled specimen of Patented Oct. 19, 1971 this invention consists of a transparent plastic block of variable size in which there is embedded:

(1) A scientific specimen or article;

(2) Labels depicting specific regions, structures or subdivisions of the specimen or article; and

(3) Pointers leading from the labels to the specimen, the labels lying in a plane generally diiferent from and parallel to the plane containing the specimen.

A fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Hereinafter the discussion will be, for illustrative purposes, with reference to a zoological specimen. However, it will be understood that this invention finds application in many other fields, wherein small articles are embedded in plastic.

FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of a labeled specimen mounted in a solid plastic block.

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the labeled mounted specimen of FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, a zoological specimen 3 is embedded in a block of solid transparent plastic 4. Labels 1A, l-B, 1-C, 1-D, 1-E, 1F, 1-G, 1H, and 1-I suitably describe or define the regions, structures or subdivisions of the specimen 3. Pointers 2 extend from the labels 1 to the specimen 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, the block 4 is made up of a fused composite of: a supporting layer 7, a specimen retaining layer 6 and a covering layer 5; labels carrying identifying insignia are placed between the layers 5 and 6. The covering layer 5 is added to protect the labels 1 and the ends of the pointers 2 from abuse, wear and corrosion.

The labels 1 are made from standard papers or any other suitable label material which is compatible with the plastic used in preparing the block 4. The labels may be opaque or transparent, and of any color. Indicia are applied to the labels, as desired. The ink used for writing or printing the indicia, such as an insignia, on the labels is indelible ink which must likewise be compatible with the plastic used for the block. India ink is usually preferred.

The label pointers 2 are preferably made from insect pins, but may be made from any other moderately soft fine wire. Prior to the formation of the. retaining layer, label pointer pins are secured so as to point to a specific region, structure or subdivision of the specimen so that the resulting angle to the specimen is the desired angle for the finished label.

The specimen 3 may be any specimen that has been properly prepared for the embedding process. The means of preparation depends on the nature of the specimen, as will be described hereinafter.

The block 4 is made from a clear-setting plastic resin, preferably one that polymerizes with minimal exothermic properties at the time of use to form a clear transparent solid block. A suitable catalyst is preferably used to promote polymerization. A number of plastics are commercially available for this purpose, such as acrylic monomer, polyester resins or styrene casting resins. Polyester resins are preferred.

The specimen must be carefully prepared. The specimen to be embedded in the plastic should be clean and The color and shape of most flowers can be preserved by methods well known in the art. Best results are obtained when the specimens are immersed in the preserving solution soon after cutting. The preserving solution is usually tertiary butyl alcohol used together with thiourea, citric acid, sodium citrate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium sulfite, peracetic acid, and the like.

When the specimen is removed from the preserving and dehydrating solution, it is drained for a minute or two to remove the excess solution, and is then placed in a drier to evaporate the volatile portions of the solution from which it has been just removed. The specimen is then dried, suitably in a gravity or mechanical convection type of oven, the temperature of the oven being maintained between 45 and 60 C.

Embedding is accomplished by polymerizing a supporting layer 7 of plastic for the specimen 3; then a specimen retaining layer 6 surrounding the specimens and finall a covering layer 5. If the specimen is heavier than the plastic, or will stick to the supporting layer, the preparation of the supporting layer 7 and the specimen retaining layer 6 can be combined in a single step. The specimen is positioned in a casting mold using label pointing pins 2 as mooring lines to secure the specimen in place. Catalyst or promote means is then added if and as needed to the plastic for the specimen-retaining layer, and is stirred gently with a clean, dry stirring rod to mix thoroughly. This plastic is then poured over and around the secured specimen. After the polymerization of the plastic has progressed sufficiently, the remainder of the label pointing pins are inserted at the desired angle to denote the less substantial subdivisions of the specimen, The ends of all the pins, that is all pin heads, should be above the surface of the embedding layer 6 at this time. The polymerization is then allowed to go to completion. The embedding layer containing the specimen is then heat cured, preferabl at 60i3 C. in a controlled oven and removed from the mold. The heads of the pins or pointer elements are then cut off near the top surface of the embedding layer 6 and the top surface of the layer is sanded until very fiat. This should bring the shanks of the pins down until they are flush with the surface of the layer. The labels 1 are then placed near the flush ends of the pins in generally parallel position to the bottom of the mold. Any insignia printed on the label will face upward from the bottom of the mold. The labels are then afiixed to the embedding layer by using a droplet of uncatalyzed plastic beneath each label to secure its position and then adding a droplet of catalyst to the surface of the label. Capillary action will deliver the catalyst to the droplet of plastic beneath the label, thereby hardening and attaching the label in the desired position. A short heat-curing preferably at 60i3 C. permanently affixes the labels 1 to the embedding layer 6. The block is then returned to the casting mold, and a covering layer is added, polymerized and heat-cured. The total block is then removed, sanded, and polished.

The invention also includes within its scope the process for preparing the plastic embedded labeled specimen.

While the article and process have been described with particular reference to teaching specifics of embodiments, it will be appreciated that variations from the details given can be effected without departing from the invention which is of the provision of the pointers leading to the specific portions of the embedded subject.

What is claimed is:

1. A plastic embedded labeled article comprising a substantially transparent plastic block having embedded therein:

(a) an article or specimen;

(b) labels lying in a plane above the article or specimen; and

(c) pointers leading from said labels to regions or structures of said article or specimen.

2. The plastic embedded labeled article of claim 1 wherein said block is made of a polyester resin.

3. The plastic embedded labeled article of claim 1 wherein said labels bear insignia depicting specific regions, structures or subdivisions of said article or specimen.

4. The plastic embedded labeled article of claim 3 wherein said labels are transparent.

5. The plastic embedded labeled article of claim 1 wherein said block is made of an acrylic resin.

6. A process for preparing a plastic embedded labeled article which comprises the steps of:

(a) surrounding an article or specimen to be embedded with unpolymerized plastic material in a mold to form an article or specimen retaining layer;

(b) holding said article or specimen in the mold at a predetermined position with one or more pin means extending from the article or specimen at an angle; said pin means comprising at least one elongate wirelike element;

(c) adding catalyst as and if needed to promote polymerization of the plastic, and heat curing as needed to complete the polymerization;

(d) removing the cured plastic block from the mold, cutting off the distal ends of the pin means near the surface of the embedding layer, and smoothing the surface;

(e) placing labels near the flush ends of the pin means in a position generally parallel to the bottom of the mold; and affixing said labels to the embedding layer;

(f) returning the resulting block to the casting mold,

covering with unpolymerized plastic, and polymerizing said plastic; and then (g) removing the entire block from the mold.

7. The process of claim 6 wherein the plastic material used is a polyester resin.

8. The process of claim 6 wherein step (a) is carried out in two stages by preparing first a supporting layer of polymerized plastic and then the article or specimen retaining layer.

9. The process of claim 6 wherein said pins of step (b) have heads which are positioned above the surface of said embedding plastic, and wherein said heads of the pins are cut off in step (d).

10. The process of claim 6 wherein said labels in step (e) have insignia on the surface of the label which faces the top of the mold.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,084,391 4/1963 Parstorfer 264-277 X 3,416,240 12/1968 Barber 35 -19 A OTHER REFERENCES Carolina Biological Supply Co., Catalogue No. 37,

-recd July 18, 1967, pp. 391, 392, 394, 401 only.

HARLAND S. SKOGQUIST, Primary Examiner

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